The correct method is for whites clock to be started before he makes his first move. Its the same as if a round starts at a certain time. and your opponent doesnt show up. You start the clock when the round starts.
"Official" rules for how to start the clock at the start of a game?
How is "white's clock is started at the start of the game" unclear?
From experience, after the handshake the player with black presses the clock. Then white makes the first move.
Maybe the confusion is that some websites don't start the clock until after white has made a move. I think this is to account for lag or something.
I'm curious if there's an official (FIDE, USCF, etc.) way that you're supposed to start a chess clock at the beginning of a game? I know that at higher levels they have more advanced equipment, but here I'm talking about regular run of the mill chess clocks and chess boards. In my club-player experience I've seen two ways a game can begin:
Obviously, the difference is very small (fraction of a second), but it could still in some rare circumstances end up being a relevant difference. I looked at the FIDE handbook, and it's not particularly clear:
6.6 At the time determined for the start of the game White’s clock is started.
So what's the "correct" way to start? Or are both acceptable?